Elevator guide



Dec'. l, 1931. CURRlE 1,834,385

ELEVATOR GUIDE ATTORNEY DCC. lx, 1931. G. CURRlE 1,834,385

ELEVATOR GUI DE Filed May 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fjg. 3.

INVENTOR' Gilbert Currie.

l ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1k, 1931 .UIN-Ell s raras GILBERT cunnrnor- WILKLNSBURG, rPENNsYLvANIA, As'sIeNoR Yr ro WEsTI-NGHOU-{SE ELECT-nic a MANUrecrUninecoMnANY,'n oonPoRA'roN orrnNN-sYLvANLA Y .ELEVAT'OR 'GUIDE lA111jplcaftion' iile'dy May 27;

My invention relates Ito `storage devices` and particularlylto storage `Vsyst-ems"includ`- ing movable conveyors, such -as-elevators.

My improvement is la. means -or lobviating the use ofV kguide :railsfor vcagesfdurin-gtlieir vertical movements by rinterlocking-thecages through the vertical columns.'

in. order to solvethe problem of automobile parking in large cit-ies, lespecially-iin congested areas in which 'facilities forparln ing are limited, .it hasbeen proposed'to utiliZe vertical storage systems in order'that fa' large number oie .automobiles may be stored upon small ground areas. Certain of the systems proposed include a storage structure comprisingin eliect, a.' series of load movers, receptacles, automobile-carrying platforms, or cages moving in a. continuous path through a pair of adjacent columns interconnected at their ends. In order'lto receive and r'store the automobiles tor-whichthesystem is'tobe utilized, suitable power: mechanism is provided to simultaneously movelth'e ycagesforereceptacles in` one column upwardly andthe'cages in the adjacent columndownwarrdly. and f to transfer the uppermost cageifromf-the top/of iirst columnto -the top ofthe-second column and transfer the bottommost cage-'inthesecond column vtrom the bottom of fthe second column to the bottom 'ofthe iirst column. In other words, the power mechanism moves the entire system of cages :in: a. ycircuitous :rpath past .any selected levelwhichis tobeA utilized as the loading system. l

ln order to obtain v.a maximum .per cent utilization of the total volume ot'buildin'g space available Jfor storage,'ithaszbeenfproposed touse .sa system of 1- elevators of this type, which includes a mechanismtor moving the uppermost cage in one column to the'top of the adjacent column ata speed greaterth an the speed ot the. cages vmoving in.' the ivertical columns, in orderto obviatethefnecessity.of spacing thecagesalongthe chain at a: greater distance than is `actually requiredl'to laccommodate the i height of; an..automobile.

ln the pendingapplicationof HsDsTames, Serial No. "330,455, .tiledaJanuary 5, .1929v and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric and unloading 1 point 'for Vthe 1929. 'serial 110,366,289.

member, one side of whichcoincides with the. line of movement of the endless chainxand the'apeX opposite .to this sideac'tin-gas a point otsupport for one side eta` cag'eiv *The operation Voi :the rapid transfer means, ltlrat is, how fit operates to secure arapidrmovement of .the V.cai-ges as they move-around a sproclretwheel `from onelline otmovement to `fanother, willrbe described inv detail ilater.

In orderl to .allow theuseof the vproj ecting arms'for supporting cages :at a. distance lfrom the'line of movement ofthe endless chain, fit was -zfou'nd .necessary .to provide the endless chain z'with lrollers or .wheels :rotatably tastene'd onleach side 'ofthe rchain,^f.the chain being i thus 'designed ".to .move, without friction, :through `a guide "surrounding it, the said 1 guide .comprising 4essentially Etwo lchannel Vironsso .placed as'torformra'hollowsquare. That is,1 the.Y eccentric; loading of L' the lendless chain, caused bythe cagesfbeing supportedlat the endofthe Aprojecting arms, would cause a lateral displacement of the chain romfthe line. otmovement'lit .should 1Jollowrun'less these Vchannel guides surrounding thei'chain wereused. f Y

."However, this means of fin'creasing`-v the speed of :transfer .wasfoundito 'presentan additional l*problem because of the swingging of theV 4cage brought about by fits -i'nertiaee'ffect when its speed is changed'atf'the point of transfer. In orderl to prevent-this swinging offthefcage, `which fwasnotonly objectionable but dangerous, it1wasproposedto1use a guiding means which vvwouldhold-"the cage in a substantially vertical position, as it moved around the sprocket wheel or sheave in transferring from one vertical shaft to another.

One of the guiding arrangements proposed was to allow projecting pins or rotating wheels on each side of a cage to engage a fixed groove similar in shape to the path of travel of the cage while the cage was moving around the sprocket wheel.

Another arrangement comprised, essen-V tially, a sprocket wheel rotating in synchronism with the movement of the cages in the elevator system whereby fingers on the sprocket wheel would engage projecting lugs on the individual cages and thus positively drive the bottom of each cage in synchro nism with the top resulting in a substantially Vertical position of the cages being maintained during the time of transfer from one Vertical shaft to another.

Still another proposed guiding arrangement for cages during this time of transfer comprises the combination of a fixed stationary guide (similar to the one heretofore described) and a cagesengaging sprocket wheel driven synchronously with the movement of cages, whereby the guided portion of the cages is moved positively through the guideway by the action of the synchronously-driven sprocket wheel.

Despite the guideway channel irons through which the endless chains move, it will be obvious that the individual cages will not be entirely guided in a fixed path during vertical travel by their use alone. That is, although the points of support of the cages are fixed relative to their endless chains and, although the endless chains are definitely fixed in their paths by the channel-iron guide surrounding them, yet the bottoms of the cages can move laterally, both with respect to an adjacent cage and with respect to the structure defining the columns,A especially when a cage is unsymmetrically loaded.

rIhis lateral swinging or displacement of the cages is not to be confused with the lateral swinging of the cages which would occur if the guiding means heretofore described for y maintaining the cages in a substantially vertical position during the time of transferring from one vertical shaft to another were not used.

It was found, by actual experience in a typical conveyor elevator of this type, that, even though the cages were guided around the sprocket wheels during the time of transfer' from one shaft to another, so much vibration remained in the individual cages that, as they left the guiding device at the sprocket wheel, they started to swing laterally, even when symmetrically loaded, and some means was necessary to prevent them from swinging to such an extent as to strike the superstructure defining the shafts.

One solution of this problem of lateral movement of the cages would be to employ guide rails, such as are commonly utilized now in which the elevator cages move in a fixed path defined by guide rails, usually one on each side of the cage. However, these guide rails are objectionable from the standpoint of added cost to the system and upkeep and maintenance.

I have solved the problem of lateral swinging of the cages by using a device to automatically interlock the top and the bottom of successive cages during the vertical travel of the cages through the shafts or columns.

In a system using channel-iron guideways to define the path of the cage-supporting-andmoving-chain, the use of a cage-interlocking device, such as I propose to use, will obvious? ly fix the path of the cages, thus performing the same function as guide rails and obviating the use of such rails for the cages.

My improvement, shown in detail in the accompanying drawings, Figs. 2, 8 and 4, comprises elements 67, 54, 167, and 154 of Fig. 1, and will subsequently be described. It is adaptable to conveyor-type elevator systems, such as is shown and described in the pending application of H. I). James, Serial No. 330,455 and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.

Moreover, it may be applied to any con* veyor system to obviate cage and receptacle guide rails, regardless of the field of application.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a conveyor-type elevator, with a guide for the cage as it moves around the sprocket wheel in transferring between shafts, as well as a device for interlocking successive cages during their vertical travel adapted thereto.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, embodying details of my cage-interlocking device.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, slightly enlirged, taken on line III*III of Fig. 2 anc Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, slightly enlarged, taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have illustrated, a storage system of the endless-chain-conveyor type to be utilized for storing automobiles which consists of a suitable structural-steel supporting structure illustrated as compris ing vertical columns 1 and 2, suitably braced by means of cross beams 3, upon the uppermost of which is mounted a chain-supporting sprocket 4, over which passes a suitable chain 5, constructed of a plurality of chain links 6, interconnected by means of pins 7. 'Ihe chain 5 extends over the sprocket 4 and thence downwardly, within suitable guiding channels 8 and 9, to the lowermost portion of the supporting structure, whence it passes around a lower sprocket 10 and thence upwardly to sprocket 4. It will be observed that the chain 5, constructed as illustrated, consti-iv tutes an endless carrier upon'which may be suspended a plurality of load receptacles or storage cases, six of Awhich are illustrated and ydesignated by the reference characters A, B,

ed by an endless chain and it operates simultaneously and in the saine manner as explained for this one side. h

.Each of the load receptacles or cages is atta-ched to the chain by means of a pair of attaching arms 11 and 12, pivotally secured to the top of the associated cage by means of a pivot-connection 14', between theV supporting beam or 'rod 14 and members 11 and 12,

` whence the arms extend in a plane'at right angles to the plane of movement of the chain 5 but having` an angular relation to each other, to engage the chain 5 at points 16 and 17 that are spaced from each other on the chain. Arms 11 and 12 are shown and described in detail in the above mentio-ned pending application of H. I). J ames, Serial No. 330,455.

@n each side of the. chain 5, is mounted a channel member 44, preferably constructed of a structural-steel channel, of the usual type. Secured within each of the channel members are .a pair of tracks 46, 'suitably secured to the channel 44 by means of bolts to constitute a double track to engage outer surfaces of the rollers 43, which are rotatably liXed to both sides of the `chain 5. rIhe track members are preferably constructed of vibrationless material, such as wood or libre, for the purpose of A reduc-ing the noise occasioned by the rollers 43 riding thereon in the normal movements of the chain 5 andthe cages A, B, C, etc. The described construction of rollers and guides acts as a *bracing means for withstanding side thrusts occasioned by the load in both horizontal and vertical planes.

In Fig. 2 is shown a detail of the construction of the top and the bottom of adjacent cagcs,-the method of support of the cages, and

the device comprising my invention. The bottom frame work of each cage orloadr receptacle comprises two I-beams 15 held together by transverse members 18 welded to their respective ends. Transverse plate members 19 are-welded to the top' flanged surfaces of the I-beams 15 to form the vfloor of each cage. Bolted, riveted, or welded to these transverse members 19 are supporting straps 13" which extend to the Vtop members 13 Which, in turn, are welded or suitably fastened, by some other means, `to the supporting beam or rod 14. The supporting rod 14 is supported in the oint formed by the end members of arms 11 and 12 fastened to the endless chain 5 itself. Welded or bolted to the end member .18 is a bracket 72 which supports the guiding member or cam shoe 54, which is bolted thereto. The shape of this guiding member is clearly shown in Fig. 8.

Bolted directly to the end member 18 of each cage is a guiding member or cam'shoe 154, the shape of which is shown in Fig. 4.

It will be noted that cam shoe 154 is similar to the lower portion of cani shoe 54.

Attached to'the supporting beam or rod 14, by a suitable means, is a lug 67 the top of which is substantially triangular in shape,

as shown in Fie. 3.

Also 4fastened to the supporting rod or bea-m 14, by suitable means, is a similar lug 167 which has the same shape. as lug 67. (See Fig. 4). r

Referring' again to Fig. 1, it will vbe 0bserved that the arms 11 and 12 and the vertically extending portion of the chain 5, constit-ute a triangle having its base along the axis of the chain 5. This' triangle is so constructed that its altitude is greater than the pitch radius X ofthe sheave or sprocket wheel 4'. It will be observed, therefore, that movement of the cages through the vertical portion of the path defined by the chain 5 will be at a speed proportional to the pitch'radius X of the sheave or sprocket 4, and that, when the triangular attaching device 11, 12 passes around the sheave or sprocket 4, the `cage-v supporting beain or rod 14 will move lat a speed proportional to the radius of the arc of a cirole'which the rod 14 describes in its travel. traveled by the rod 14 to be twice that of the pitch radius X of sheave 4, but it should be understoodthat I have merely adopted this ratio as preferable, any other ratio desired being dependent upon the speed of transfer required.rr

Each cage is transferred. through .a lhorizontal movement from the top of the one column to the top of the adjacent column `at a varying rate of speed. Assuming .al counterclockwise direction of movement-of the cage, this variation starts when the joint "1613etween the endless `chainf and the arm 1l' passes the horizontal level of the bearing 50 of the sprocket wheel 4. The actual linear speed of the cage is gradually increaseduntil the joint 17 between the endless chain 5 and the arm 12 reaches the level of the Abearing 50 of .the sprocketY wheel 4. At this point, the cage-is travelling ammaiimum rate of'speed, and this speed is proportional to the linear speed of the endless chain (which is the same as the vertical speed of the'cages) in the same ratio, as explained before, as the distance from the center of the bearing 50 of the sprocket w-heel 4 to the center of the supporting beam o-rrod 1'4 of the cage is to theV pitch radius of the sprocket wheel 4. lI`his maximum rate of speed maintained by the supporting rod 14 and,

I have shown the radius of the arc ieu ifea

necessarily, the cage suspended therefrom until the joint 16 between tie endless chain 5 and the arm 11 reaches the horizontal level of the center of the bearing 50 at a point diametrically opposite the point with which it coincided when it first started to pass around the sprocket wheel 4. From this point, in the travel of the cage around the sprocket wheel 4, the speed of the supporting rod 14 and the cage suspended therefrom gradually decreases until the joint 17 between the endless chain 5 and the arm 12 coincides with the horizontal level orn the center of the bearing 50 of the sprocket wheel 4. From this last position, the cage again travels vertically, but this time downwardly, at the normal rate of speed, which is the same as the linear speed of the endless chain.

It will be readily understood that, during the time in which the horizontal component of the actual speed of the cage is increasing from zero to a maximum and back to zero again, the vertical component oi" the actual speed of the cage is decreasing` from normal speed of travel to zero and back to normal again but in the opposite direction from that previously described. Obviously, the horizontal component of the actual speed of the cage will have its maximum value at the point at which the center of the supporting rod 14 of the cage coincides with a vertical line through the center of the bearing 50 et the sprocket wheel 4; for. in this position, the horizontal component of the actual speed of travel ot the cage is identical with the actual speed of travel ot the cage. At this point, also, it must follow that the vertical component of the actual speed of each cage is zero.

It will be observed that a similar action will take place at the lowermost portion of the structure when the rod 14 for any cage passes through the arc ot the circle around the lower sheave or sprocket 10. Hence, the mechanism just described constitutes a. means for rapidly transferring the ca `ges from one vertical column to the other. By constructing the cages and their attaching devices in accordance with the description set forth, it will be observed that, through the vertical portions of the movements of the cages, they may be secured upon the chain in close relation, there being substantially no waste space between the top member 18 oit the one cage and the lower members 15 o' the cage mounted just above it. Hence, by the elimination of this waste space, a greater number of automobiles be stored within a given vertical height of storage structure or housing.

The particular means for applying' motive power to the chain 5 is not material to my invention. I have shown a driving' mechanism similar to that illustrated in the co-pending V `application of H. D. James, Serial No.

265,011, filed March 27, 1928 and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, which comprises a suitable motor 51, driving through suitable reduction gearing 52, a sprocket 53, the teeth of which engage the roller bushings 41 of the chain to thereby drive the chain upwardly upon one side ofthe sprocket 53 and downwardly upon its opposite side. However, .any other suitable driving mechanism might be employed.

It will be observed that, due to the accelerated horizontal motion of the cages, as they move from one column to the other, the inertia of the cages opposes the change from zero to maximum speed of horizontal movement and will cause the cages to swing upon their pivot connections 14 and, as will be the case when these cages are loaded with such weights as are present in the contemplated use of this device, such as an automobilestorage structure, such swinging movement is undesirable, if not extremely dangerous. For this reason, a mechanism is employed for guiding the lowermost part of each cage during that portion of its movement which consists of the transfer of the cage from one column to the next. This guiding mechanism comprises the cam shoe 54 secured to the end plate 18 of the lowermost portion of the frame-work oi each of the cages A, B, C, etc. by a suitable bracket 72 (see F ig. 2). Cam shoe 54 is engageable by any one of the three arms 55, 56, and 57 rotatable with the driving sprocket 53. The outer end of each of the arms 55, 56, 57 is provided with a suitable pin 58 for engagement with a depression 54 in the bottom of each of the cam shoes 54. (Fig.

It will be observed, from an inspection of Fig. 1, that the radius of the sprocket 53 is the same as the radius of the sheave 4, while the arms 55, 56 and 57 are each constructed of such length that the pins 58 lie .at a distance vfrom the aXis of rotation of the gear 53, equal to twice the radius ot the sprocket. Hence, the pin 58 on any one of the arms 55, 56, 57 will move in synchronism with the cage-supporting rod 14 and the top of the cage, as the rod 14 moves over the curved path concentric with the sheave 4. By suitably arranging the location of each of the arms 55, 56 and 57, with respect to the location of the attaching arms 11 and 12, and with reference to the chain 5, it follows that, as the rod 14 starts through its curved path over the sheave 4, one of the pins 58 on the arms 55, 56, 57 will engage the cam shoe at the lower portion of the corresponding cage. Hence, the lower end of the cage will be guided in exact synchronism with the movements of the upper end of the cage during the transfer period.

In a similar manner, a plurality of arms 59, 60, 61, held in definite relative position by the supporting members 70, are mounted Aupon a suitable sprocket 62, which is driven from one vertical column to the other at the lowermost portion of their travel. Each of the arms 59, 60, 61 is provided with a pin 65 corresponding to the pins 58 described with reference to arms 55, 56, 57, for the purpose of engaging a depression 66 (see Fig. 3) in the top of cam shoes 54 to thereby guide the cages through the transfer movement at the lower portion of the sto-rage structure. v

After the completion of the rapid-transfer movement at either the upper or the lower sprocket wheels, it will be obvious that the tops and bottoms of successive cages again assume their normal, closely-spacedrelation. Also, it may clearly be seen that, as they assume their normal closely spaced relation for travel in the vertical paths of movement, automatically, lug 67 and lug 167. on the top of each cage engage the guiding members 54 and 154, respectively, which are mounted on the bottom of the adjacent cage.

These guiding members 54 and 154, as

-well as the lugs 67 and 167, are preferably mounted on both sides of each cage, although they need not necessarily be so mounted. That is, they may be mounted on one side alone. In either case, the result is essentially the same, although, with guiding members and lugs on both sides of each cage,l a more rigid interlocking is secured.

These guiding members 54 and 154,` as

-well as the lugs 67 `and 167, may be made of wood or of some fibrous material or -ofsome phenolic condensation product so that the noise yattendant upon their cooperation is a minimum.

, I do not mean to limit my invention to the particular construction of lugs, as I have shown them, for other forms of construction can easily be used which will perform the same functions and operate likewisewith a minimum amount of. noise. i

It will readily be seen that, with the kind of support for the cages or load receptacles Ahereinbefore l described, comprising channel guides for the endless chains and an interlocking mechanism for successive 1 cages, guiding rails for the maintaining ofa fixed vertical path for the cages need. not be 'employed.

The fixation of the point of support for each cage is, of course, due to the fact that the supporting endless chain isl maintained in a fixed vertical linear path by the guide rails surrounding the chain. The iiXation of the top of' one cage obviously determines the fixation of the bottom or lower portion of the adjacent cage, because the interlocking vdevice, which constitutes my invention, holds the top of one cage and the bottom of the adjacent cage in a fixed position vrelative .to each other.

Thus, it may be seen that, since both the top and the bottom of each cage are maintained in a fixed vertical path of travel, the

vertical path of each cage or receptacle is lined, and special guide rails to maintain each cage yin a fixed vertical path are not essential, although they may beemployed.

It will be noted that I have shown the cam shoe 54 las serving in sever-al capacities. That is, I have shown it as an engaging meansffor lug 67, whereby successivecages are interloc-ked, and I have also shown it as an engaging means for pins 58 and 65 which engage it 'during the period o f cage transfer from the one vertical columnfto the other, whereby the cages are guided in a substantially vertical position during that time.

It will be clearly evident that, when guiding member 154 on one cage is engaged by thel'lug 167 on the adjacent cage, it performs the same function-as the lower portion of cam shoe 54. That is, it interlocks. the top and the bottomofladj acent cages.

I have shown and described guidingv means 154 and lug 167 because their employment in connection with guiding member 54 and ug 67 insures a irm,rigid interlocking of adjacent cages.

However, the utilization of the guiding -member 154 and the lug 167 is not absolutely essential, as'practically the same result may be secured by employing guiding member. 54 and lug 67 alone. i

It should be understood that I do not claim i from the fact that the .cages or loadV recep-V tacles are guided throughout Vthe entire circuito-us path with a smooth andpractically noiseless guiding action. v

From the above description, it will be apparent that I have shown a conveyorftype elevator system which allows close spacing of successive cages (this being made possible by the use of a device which increases the speed of the cages as they travel from the one ver-A l tical column to the otherV around the sprocket ios wheel sheaves), which maintains the cages in a substantially vertical posi-tion during the transfer period between columns, and which provides means for interlocking successive cages during their movement through vertical paths, thu-s obviating the use of special guide-rail equipment for the cages and ap- -preciably reducing the total cost of installation of an elevator system.

It is to be understood that the foregoing embodiments of my invention have been described in terms intended to be illustrative only, and that I do not desire to be limited to any of the details shown and described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a conveyor system, the combination with a supporting structure and receptacles moving therein, of a guiding means on each receptacle and a means on each receptacle for engaging said guiding means on an adjacent receptacle, whereby relative lateral movement between successive receptacles is prevented. I

2. In an elevator system, means defining adjacent vertical columns interconnected at their respective ends, a plurality of load receptacles in each cf lsaid columns, means for moving said load receptacles through said columns in a definite path and with a continulous movement, guiding means on each receptacle, means on each receptacle for so enceptacles in each of said columns, means for moving said load receptacles through said columns in a definite path and with a continuous movement, guiding means cooperating with said moving means to maintain said moving means in a fixed path of movement,

guiding means on each receptacle, means on each receptacle for engaging said last-mentioned guiding means on the adjacent receptacle, whereby successive receptacles are interloclred and relative movement between successive receptacles and between the receptacles and the said means defining adjacent ivertical columns is prevented.

4L. In an elevator system, means defining adjacent vertical columns interconnected at their respective ends, a plurality of load receptacles in each of said columns, means for moving said load receptacles through said columns in a definite path and with a continuous movement, means movable in a path corresponding to that described by said recep- .tacles in transferring from one vertical column to another, guiding means on each receptacle, said guiding means being engageable by said last-mentioned movable means to maintain said receptacles in a substantially vertical position while transferring from the one vertical column to the other, means on each receptacle for engaging said guiding means of an adjacent receptacle, whereby lateral relative movement between successive receptacles and between the receptacles and said means defining adjacent vertical columns is prevented.

5. In an elevator system, means defining adjacent vertical columns, interconnected at eral relative movement between successive ceptacles in each of said columns, means for moving said load receptacles through the said columns in a definite path and with a continuous movement, mea-ns movable in a path corresponding to the path described by said receptacles while transferring from one vertical column to another, guiding means on each receptacle, said guiding means being engage- Vable by said last mentioned movable means,

whereby said receptacles are maintained in a substantially vertical position while transferring from one vertical column to another, a second guiding means on each receptacle, a means on each receptacle for engaging said second guiding means on an adjacent receptacle, whereby lateral relative movement between successive receptacles and between the receptacles and the said means defining the adjacent vertical columns is prevented.

6. -In an elevator system, means defining adjacent vertical columns interconnected at their respective ends, a plurality of load receptacles in each of said columns, means for moving said load receptacles through the said columns in a definite path and with a continuous movement, guiding means on each of said load receptacles, said guiding means being substantially a rectangular member with substantially triangular portions cut out on two opposite sides, means on each receptacle comprising an upstanding lug for engaging said guiding means of the adjacent receptacle in one of triangular portions, whereby lateral relative movement between successive receptacles and between the receptacles and said means defining adjacent vertical columns is prevented.

7. In an elevator system, means defining Vadjacent vertical columns interconnected at Vgaging saidl guiding .means of theadjacen't load receptacle in the triangular cut-out portion, whereby lateral relative movementbetween successive loadreceptaeles and between the receptacles and said means defining adjacent vertical columns is prevented.

8.'.ln an elevator systennmeans delining adjacent vertical columns interconnected at their respective ends, a plurality oi'ilload receptacles in each of said columns, means :for

moving said load receptaelesthrough the said columns in a definite path andA withv a continuous movement, guiding means on eachre-` ceptacle, said guiding means being substantially a rectangular member with substantial- `ly triangular portions cut out on two opposite sides, means on each receptacle comprising an `upstanding lug for engaging said guiding means of the neXt preceding receptacle in one Aof `the triangular portions, whereby lateral relative movement between successive receptacles and between the receptacles and said means defining adjacent vertical columns is prevented, means movable in a path similar to'that described by said receptacles in trans- Jferring from one vertical column to another and engaging said guiding -means on each receptacle, whereby said loadreceptaeles are maintained in a substantially verticall posi- Ation while transferring trom one fvertical column to another.

9. In an elevator system, means delining adjacent vertical columns interconnected at their respective ends,fa plurality of load receptacles in each of said columns, meanstor 'moving said load receptacles through the said columns in a deiinite path=and with a continuous movement, means movable ina path corresponding'to the path described by said load receptacles while transferring from one vertical column to another, guiding means on each load receptacle comprising a 'rectangular member with substantially triangular portions cut out on two opposite sides, said guiding means on each load receptacle being engageable by said last mentioned movable means, whereby said load receptacles are maintained in a substantially vertical position while transferring from one vertical shaft to another, a secon d guiding means on each load receptacle comprising a rectangular'member having a triangular portionV tive lateral movement between adjacent movers is prevented.

1l. ln a conveyor comprisinga plurality ot load receptacles movable in an endless path, guiding means on each receptacle, and;y

means on each receptacle for engaging sai guiding means on an Yadjacent receptacle, whereby relative llateral movement between adjacent reeeptaclesis prevented.

t load receptacles movable by 4continuous movement tir-sugli ari-endless path, guiding means on each receptacle, and means on each receptaclel for engag'if said guiding means on an acent receptacle, whereby relative movement between adjacent receptacles is prevented.

13. ln a conveyor having' a plurality` of rece itacles movable in a circuitouspath com- -pirising two adjacent interconnected straightl l2. ln a conveyorcomprising a plurality portions, guiding means on each' receptacle,

and means on each receptacle ior engaging said guiding ineansot an adjacent receptacle, whereby relatively lateral movement between ad'acent rrece tacles is arevented durinoff their movement through the straight pon.

tions.

lll. ln a conveyorhaving afpluralijtyv-of closely spaced receptacles movable in a circuitous path comprising two adjacent inter-i" connected straight portions, guiding means on eaehreceptacle, and meanson each receptacle for engaging said guiding means of an adjacent receptacle, whereby relative lateral movement between adjacentA receptacles isf? prevented during their movement through vthe straight portions..

. l5. In a conveyor, a plurality of load-movers movable in a circuitous path. successively through two adjacent interconnected straight portions thereof, guiding means `on *each '-mover, means engageable' with said guiding meanson each mover as the mover transfers "from one straight portion Vto 'the other to -maintain a substantially constant orientation ot said mover, and. lmeans on each mover engageable 'with saidguiding meansot anadjacent mover to prevent relative/movement of adjacent movers during the movement thereofV through the straight portions.

16; ln .a conveyor, a lplurality 'of 'load movers movable ina circuitous path ysuccesv-sively through lvtwo adjacent interconnected straight portions, guiding means on*V each mover, meansV movable in correspondence :with the, movementof the load movers for engaging 'said guiding means on each mover as the mover transfers from one straight portion tothe othertoV maintain a substantially constant orientation of said mover, and means on each mover enga'geable with said guiding means of an adjacent mover to prevent relative movement of adjacent movers during "tionsl movementthereot through the straight V:por-

filo,V

17.v In a conveyor comprising means defining adjacent straight paths of movement interconnected at their respective ends, a plurality of load receptacles in each of said straight paths, means for movingsaid load receptacles successively through said straight portions in a delinite path and with a continuous movement, guiding means cooperating with said moving means to maintain said moving means in a iiXed path of movement, guiding means on each receptacle, means on each receptacle for engaging said last-mentioned guiding means of an adjacent receptacle, whereby successive receptacles are ginterloclred and relative movement between successive receptacles and between the receptacles and the said means defining the adjacentstraight paths of movement is prevented.

18. In an elevator, means .defining adjacent vertical columns interconnected at their respective ends, a plurality of load receptacles in each of saidv columns, means for moving said load receptacles successively through said columns in a definite path and with a' continuous movement, means movable in correspondence with the movement of the said load receptacles in a path corresponding to that described by said receptacles in transferring from one vertical column 'to another, guiding means on each receptacle, said guiding means being engageable by said last-mentioned movable means to maintain said receptacles in a substantially vertical position while transferring from one vertical column to the other, means on each receptacle for engaging said guiding means of an adjacent receptacle, whereby lateral relative movement between successive receptacles and said means defining adjacent vertical columns is prevented.

19. In a conveyor comprising a plurality of load receptacles movable in a circuitous path successively through two adjacent interconnected straight portions thereof, means movable in correspondence with the movement of the load receptacles as they transfer from one straight portion to the other, guiding means on each receptacle, said guiding means being engageable by said last-mentioned movable means, whereby said receptacles are maintained in a substantially constant orientation while transferring from one straight portion to the other, a second guiding means on each receptacle, means on each receptacle for engaging said second guiding means on each receptacle, whereby relative movement between successive receptacles is prevented.

20. In an elevator system, means defining adjacent vertical columns, interconnected at their respective ends, a plurality of load receptacles in each of said columns, means for moving said load receptacles successively through the said columns in a definite path and with a continuous movement, means movable in correspondence with the movement of the receptacles as they transfer from one vertical column to the other, guiding means on each receptacle, said guiding means being engageable by said last-mentioned movable means, whereby said receptacles are maintained in a substantially vertical position while transferring from one vertical column to the other, a second guiding means on'each receptacle, a means on each receptacle for engaging said second guiding means on an adjacent receptacle, whereby lateral relative movement between successive receptacles is prevented. Y

21. In an elevator system, means defining adjacent vertical columns, interconnected at their respective ends, a plurality of load receptacles in each of said columns, means for moving said load receptacles successively through said columns in a denite path and with a continuous movement, means movable in correspondence with the movement of the receptacles as they transfer from one vertical column to another and in a path corresponding to the path described by the said receptacles asl they transfer from one vertical column to another, guiding means on each receptacle, said guiding means being engageable by said last-mentioned movable means, whereby said receptacles are maintained in a substantially vertical position while transferring from one vertical column to another, a second guiding means on each receptacle, a means on each receptacle for engaging said guiding means on an adjacent receptacle,4 whereby lateral relative movement between successive receptacles is prevented.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd day of May, 1929.

GILBERT CURRIE. 

